Chlorite Alteration Processes in Mineral Deposits
Summary
Chlorite alteration denotes the transformation of primary rock constituents into chlorite minerals under the influence of hydrothermal fluids or metamorphic overprint. This process occurs across a spectrum of geological settings, from low‐temperature diagenetic environments to high‐temperature metamorphic terranes, and exerts a fundamental control on the evolution of mineral deposits. In porphyry, epithermal and skarn systems, chlorite commonly forms part of propylitic and greenschist‐facies assemblages, recording pathways of fluid flow, redox conditions and thermal gradients. Its chemical composition—particularly aluminium content, Fe/Mg ratio and trace‐element zoning—serves as a robust proxy for physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH and fluid origin. Globally, chlorite alteration influences ore deposition, governs permeability in geothermal reservoirs, impacts the stability of host rocks during radioactive‐waste disposal and aids in the reconnaissance of mineral exploration targets. Modern analytical and spectroscopic advances have rendered chlorite not merely a passive alteration phase but a dynamic recorder of fluid–rock interaction with practical applications in exploration, resource estimation and environmental geology.
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Chlorite Alteration Processes in Mineral Deposits publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in chlorite alteration processes in mineral deposits across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Chloritisation: the process by which original minerals are replaced or overgrown by chlorite under hydrothermal or metamorphic conditions.
Propylitic alteration: a type of hydrothermal alteration characterised by chlorite, epidote and calcite, typically formed at moderate temperatures in the outer zones of mineral systems.
Geothermometer: a mineral‐based tool or calibration used to estimate formation temperatures from chemical compositions or equilibria.
Phyllosilicate: a group of sheet silicate minerals, including chlorite, mica and smectite, distinguished by their layered crystal structure.
Metasomatism: chemical alteration of a rock through introduction or removal of elements by fluid interaction, leading to mineralogical changes.
References
- Clay Minerals in Hydrothermal Systems. Minerals (2020).
- Exploration Targeting in Porphyry Cu Systems Using Propylitic Mineral Chemistry: A Case Study of the El Teniente Deposit, Chile. Economic Geology (2020).
- Low-Temperature Chlorite Geothermometry and Related Recent Analytical Advances: A Review. Minerals (2021).
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